Spoiler Alert: 'Heroes' resurrects 'Carnivale'

Based on the casting breakdowns that are making the rounds in Hollywood, it seems safe to say that the creatively resurgent NBC drama’s new volume, “Redemption,” will bear more than a passing resemblance to the much-missed HBO show.

Besides a Knife Thrower and a sexy, twentysomething Tattoo Girl, Heroes is on the hunt for a middle-aged Eddie Izzard type to play the Carnival Barker, a smooth operator with a wicked wit. This character, I hear, will start small and grow. (Not grow as in grow-into-World’s-Tallest-Man grow, but grow nonetheless.)

In addition, the series is searching for its own Ellen Page to play Claire’s (Hayden Panettiere) quirky college roommate, and a stalwart – think Andre Braugher – for the role of Matt’s (Greg Grunberg) partner… and mentor.

Sound good to you? Or at least better than this season of Heroes? Or does it just annoy you that somebody is doing Carnivàleother than, er, Carnivàle? (My opinion? Yes, yes, and a little.) Sound off below! (Additional reporting by Andy Patrick)